Alongside teammate Imam-ul-Haq, Rizwan is under investigation by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency.
Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan has formally contested the jurisdiction and basis of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency's (NCCIA) inquiry against him.
The legal and administrative tussle involving the wicketkeeper-batter has escalated rapidly following Pakistan's recent 3-0 Test series defeat in England.
The NCCIA's multi-page questionnaire follows allegations surrounding online cricket betting, gambling links, and suspected dressing room information leaks. Alongside teammate Imam-ul-Haq, Rizwan is under investigation regarding financial transactions, bank records, and digital correspondence.
In his response, Rizwan argued that since he is an active international cricketer, any corruption or integrity-related complaints fall strictly under the purview of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU). He questioned why the matter was not forwarded to the apex body.
"As a cricketer, I have served the Pakistan team to the best of my ability. Despite being an active cricketer, the allegations against me were not reported to the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit. It is incomprehensible why the NCCIA is conducting an inquiry into such a case," Rizwan stated, as quoted by Samaa TV.
Rizwan also sought details of the allegations against him. "I should be provided with full details of the allegations against me so that I can participate in the inquiry," he said.
While Imam chose to comply and submit his questionnaire answers before the deadline, Rizwan continues to push for transparency regarding what specific wrongdoing he is being accused of.
In fact, Rizwan filed an urgent writ petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) arguing that the NCCIA lacks the authority to investigate sports-related betting allegations. His legal counsel highlighted that the ICC’s ACU is the globally mandated body explicitly tasked with investigating such corruption or spot-fixing concerns, and no complaints had ever been lodged with them.
However, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum dismissed his petition, instructing Rizwan that he must directly face the inquiry and cooperate with the cybercrime agency.
After Pakistan's heavy defeat in the second Test at Lord's, Rizwan and Imam were among seven players axed mid-tour and sent back home. Upon their return, a PCB security officer reportedly confiscated their mobile phones for forensic data extraction.
Both Rizwan and Imam appeared before the NCCIA in Lahore last week, where they were interrogated for several hours regarding their communications, call logs, and contacts during practice sessions and matches.
The investigators also examined the players' recent bank accounts and financial transactions to detect any suspicious movements before or during the England series.
(With IANS Inputs)